What is Dicrocoelium dendriticum?
Dicrocoelium dendriticum infects primarily ruminants from regions that can support both of the intermediate hosts (snails and ants of the genus Formica). The adults live in the bile ducts and in the gallbladder, laying eggs that are shed in the feces.
What is the recommended treatment for Dicrocoelium dendriticum?
Because human infections with Dicrocoelium dendriticum are so rare, there are multiple suggestions for treatment. The standard treatment is an anthelmintic such as Praziquantel, Triclabendazole, or Mirazid.
What is Dicrocoeliasis?
Dicrocoeliasis is a zoonotic infection of herbivorous mammals such as cattle, sheep, rabbits and goats caused by Dicrocoelium dendriticum (lancet/liver fluke) or Dicrocoelium hospes with widespread distribution in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
How many hosts does Dicrocoelium dendriticum have in its life cycle?
The Lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) has a rather complex life cycle that includes two intermediate hosts and one definitive host. The fluke’s two intermediate hosts most commonly are the land snail (i.e. Zebrina sp., Cionella sp.) and the field ant (i.e. Formica sp.)
How does Dicrocoelium Dendriticum cause disease?
The lancet fluke infection is caused by D. dendriticum in sheep, goats, deer and humans. The adult worms live in the bile duct of the host giving rise to various liver troubles. The disease is acquired by ingestion of metacercariae while snails and ants serve as the intermediate hosts in the worm’s life cycle.
Is Dicrocoelium Dendriticum zoonotic?
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is the causative agent of a rare food-borne zoonosis of the human biliary tract, dicrocoeliasis, for which few human prevalence data are available. Infection occurs through the ingestion of ants containing metacercariae, whereas pseudo-infections (presence of D.
Can humans get Dicrocoelium Dendriticum?
The trematode Dicrocoelium dendriticum, the lanceolate fluke or lancet fluke, is a common parasite of ruminants but humans can be accidental definitive hosts. Another species, D. hospes, is responsible for human infections in West Africa.
Why is liver fluke called liver fluke?
Liver fluke is a collective name of a polyphyletic group of parasitic trematodes under the phylum Platyhelminthes. They are principally parasites of the liver of various mammals, including humans. Capable of moving along the blood circulation, they can occur also in bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver parenchyma.
Is fluke a worm?
The flukes (Trematoda) are a class of parasitic worms belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes…. The symmetrical body of a fluke is covered with a noncellular cuticle.
What are flukes in poop?
Intestinal flukes (trematodes) are flat hermaphroditic worms that vary in length from a few millimetres to many centimetres. Approximately 70 species are known to colonise the human intestine, but only a few species are known to cause actual infection. The most common human intestinal trematode is Fasciolopsis buski.
What do flukes look like?
The flukes (Trematoda) are a class of parasitic worms belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes…. The symmetrical body of a fluke is covered with a noncellular cuticle. Most are flattened and leaflike or ribbonlike, although some are stout and circular in cross section.
What does Rhabditiform meaning?
Adjective. rhabditiform (not comparable) Having the form of a nematode of the order Rhabditida.
What is Rhabditiform larva?
Rhabditiform larva is characteristic to nematodes (roundworm). Splitting of egg shells of intestinal parasite Ascaris (roundworm) release rhabditiform larvae in the intestine from where they reach to the liver via portal circulation and to the heart via pulmonary circulation then finally to lungs where they moult.
Dicrocoelium dendriticum, the lancet liver fluke, is found in the bile ducts of sheep, cattle, pigs, deer, cottontail rabbits, and woodchucks ( Georgi, 1985 ). The fluke eggs are eliminated in the feces of the definitive hosts and are ingested by terrestrial snails. Cercaria develop in the snails, are secreted in mucus, and are ingested by ants.
What is the clinical presentation of Dicrocoelium in humans?
Clinical presentation in humans. Dicrocoelium dendriticum along with Dicrocoelium hospes are part of a group of flukes that can infect the bile ducts of humans. Because the bodies of these parasites are long and narrow, infections are generally confined to the more distal parts of the bile ducts.
What is the difference between Clonorchis sinensis and dendriticum?
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is distinguished by lobed testes in the anterior of the body, as opposed to Clonorchis sinensis whose testes are located in the posterior. They both are flat and have a characteristic taper at the anterior and posterior ends. The anterior is distinguished by an oral sucker at the point, an acetabulum and the testes.
What animal eats Dicrocoelium dendriticum?
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is found locally in many parts of the temperate world. Adult flukes that live in the bile ducts expel eggs that are infective to snails, which ingest the eggs. Later the cercariae are expelled from the snail in pulmonary exudates known as the “slime ball.” Ants ingest the slime ball,…